Ceiling fan

ABSTRACT

A ceiling fan, including a plurality of blades, wherein at least one surface of at least one blade in the plurality of blades is covered by a decorative motif.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ceiling fans.

BACKGROUND

Ceiling fans typically are undecorated or are decorated in a standardfashion that is not customized to match or complement the rooms in whichthey are located or the particular tastes and interests of their owners.Such ceiling fans often clash with the overall décor of the rooms inwhich they are placed, or at best fail to maximize the possibilitiesinherent in such rooms. It would be desirable to provide ceiling fansmatching or complementing the décor of the rooms in which they arelocated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A ceiling fan, including a plurality of blades, wherein at least onesurface of at least one blade in the plurality of blades is covered by adecorative motif.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following definitions are provided to aid in construing the claimsof the present application:

Decorative Motif: Any visual design drawn or painted on an object, orotherwise attached to an object, such as by gluing. For example, aDecorative Motif can be a fabric, paper, sticker, decal, ornament,wallpaper, or contract paper visual design glued, adhered, or otherwiseattached to an object.

Performance: For the purposes of the present application, the speed ofrotation of the blades of a ceiling fan, the stability of the ceilingfan, the air circulation capabilities of the ceiling fan, and the aircooling capabilities of a the ceiling fan.

Visual Design: Any geometric, abstract, representational, or otherimage, design, or graphic that can be attached to an object, includingbut not limited to solid colors, abstract geometric patterns,representations of natural objects, such as flowers, the sun, moon,stars, and planets, animals, etc., man made objects, such as rockets orairplanes, school colors, team insignias, religious symbols,occupational items, such as a hammer or saw for a carpenter for exampleor a comb for a beautician, items relating to sports, such as bats,rackets, sticks, and pucks and balls of various types, as well asbasketball baskets, football goalposts, tennis nets, soccer or hockeygoals, and so forth.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a first preferred embodiment, ceiling fan 100includes fan base 110 which is attached to main housing 120, which inturn is attached to one or more lights 130 a through 130 n, one or morefan blades 140 a through 140 n, and one or more control cords 150 athrough 150 n. Motor 160 is enclosed in main housing 120 and is notshown. In some embodiments of the present invention lights 130 a through130 n are not present. In some embodiments of the present inventioncontrol cords 150 a through 150 n are not present. In some embodimentsof the present invention, fan base 110 is not present. Many of theceiling fans manufactured by the Hunter Fan Company of Jacksonville,Fla., for example, can be used in accordance with the present invention.The Covent Garden model is one such model.

The ceiling fan of the present invention additionally includes aDecorative Motif including a Visual Design attached to at least theunderside 142 a to 142 n of at least one of fan blades 140 a through 140n. Preferably, the same Visual Design is attached to the underside 142 athrough 142 n of each fan blade 140 a through 140 n. The DecorativeMotif and the Visual Design preferably match or complement the décor ofthe room in which the ceiling fan is located or to be located. Forexample, undersides 142 a through 142 n can be painted the same or acomplementary color as such room, or the same design as such room, orcan be covered with the same wallpaper as the walls of such room, or canbe covered with fabric matching furniture or draperies in such room.Alternatively, the Decorative Motif and the Visual Design can beunrelated to such décor. For example, a brick wall Decorative Motif canbe utilized in a room with a tropical décor. Similarly, a treeDecorative Motif can be utilized in a room with an aquarium décor.

The inventor has found that a Decorative Motif has no observable effecton the performance of a ceiling fan. Whether the Decorative Motifcomprises paint, wallpaper, fabric, or other materials, performance isnot affected. Of course it may be possible to create a Decorative Motifthat will have an effect on performance (and it may in somecircumstances be desirable to do so), but the inventor has found that awide array of materials do not affect performance in any observablefashion.

In another embodiment, the Decorative Motif comprises an element visiblein darkened rooms to decrease the likelihood of an accident when turningthe ceiling fan off in the darkness. For example, glow in the darkelements can be used. In another embodiment, the Decorative Motifcomprises a highly visible element to alert the visually impaired to thepresence of the ceiling fan to decrease the likelihood of an accidentwhen the ceiling fan is operating. Any brightly colored or lightreflecting element can be used for this purpose. For example, smallreflectors similar to those used on bicycles or small mirrors can beused.

Referring to FIG. 2, kit 200 for decorating a ceiling fan in accordancewith the present invention is illustrated. The kit includes brush 210,fabric 212, paints 214, and instructions 220. Fabric 212 providessufficient decorated wallpaper fabric to cover the undersides of theblades of at least a standard size ceiling fan and can be attached witha thin layer of glue or paste. Alternatively, a self adhesive material,such as contact paper can be included in kit 200 in place of fabric 212;however, self-adhesive materials can be difficult to apply evenly andsmoothly. Brush 210 is a paint brush. Paints 214 are a plurality ofdifferent colored paints suitable for use in decorating ceiling fans insufficient quantities to cover the undersides of the blades of at leasta standard size ceiling fan. Standard oil or acrylic paints, amongothers, depending on the surfaces to be painted, can be utilized. Insome cases, spray paints or texture paints can be utilized. Instructions220 provide step by step instructions for decorating the undersides of aceiling fan. For example, instructions 220 specify (if the user desiresto paint the ceiling fan) whether a primer is necessary, how long theceiling fan must dry, how many coats of paint are necessary, and how toapply a design if a design is desired. E.g., to apply stripes, maskingtape can be successively applied to cover the areas not currently beingpainted. In another embodiment, kit 200 is packaged in a cardboard orcellophane or clear plastic box, or a combination cardboard andcellophane or clear plastic box, and includes one covering for eachblade of the ceiling fan, a paint brush (preferably a small one), a tubeor other container of adhesive (or a set of adhesive strips), a tube offray block, and an instruction booklet. In this embodiment, the bladecoverings can be wallpaper, contact paper, fabric such as lace, cotton,and other lightweight fabrics, decals, stickers, ornaments, paints, orother materials, or a combination thereof.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention.Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of theinvention.

1. A ceiling fan, comprising: a plurality of blades, wherein at leastone surface of at least one blade in said plurality of blades is coveredby a decorative motif.
 2. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein each bladein said plurality of blades is covered by a decorative motif.
 3. Theceiling fan of claim 1, further comprising: a motor.
 4. The ceiling fanof claim 1, further comprising: at least one light.
 5. The ceiling fanof claim 1, wherein the decorative motif comprises a visual designpainted on said at least one blade.
 6. The ceiling fan of claim 1,wherein the decorative motif comprises wallpaper attached to said atleast one blade.
 7. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the decorativemotif comprises fabric attached to said at least one blade.
 8. Theceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the decorative motif does not affect theperformance of the ceiling fan.
 9. The ceiling fan of claim 1, whereinthe decorative motif matches the décor of the room in which it islocated.
 10. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the decorative motifcomplements the décor of the room in which it is located.
 11. Theceiling fan of claim 1, further comprising a highly visible element. 12.A kit for decorating a ceiling fan, comprising: decorating means;instructions for decorating at least one surface of at least one bladeof a plurality of blades of a ceiling fan.
 13. The kit of claim 12,wherein said at least one blade when decorated comprises a decorativemotif matching the décor of the room in which it is located.
 14. The kitof claim 12, wherein said at least one blade when decorated comprises adecorative motif complementing the décor of the room in which it islocated.